I want to do my own 4 to 8 string conversion. Yes, I know I can buy a low-end 8 for this price but I like the custom/project aspect of this.

I am looking for a bass that:

- sells used for $300-400 max
- is relatively wide at the nut (P-Bass thickness or wider)
- has a large enough headstock to accommodate the extra tuners

This Ampeg is great, I think an Ibanez musician would be good but they have skyrocketed in price lately. Anyone got ideas for me? Thoughts about doing this?

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I think Harvey really lucked out w/ the Ampeg, because the large 2+2 layout of the headstock makes it much easier to add additional tuners. 2+2's are rare these days, and large 2+2's especially so, so you'll probably have to hunt around a bit...unless you want to do one of those ugly-ass conversions where the octave strings anchor at the headstock & have their tuners down by the bridge? Then you could use practically any bass. (But if you did that, all of the other reindeers would laugh and call you names.)

I recently did a 5- to 8-string conversion on a Warmoth Jazz Bass clone, but I just had an entire new neck custom built, so I didn't have to deal w/ any of those issues. Total cost was around $700 for the new neck, bridge, & all (8) tuning machines.

I've had a Framus Nashville converted to 8-string, and it turned out very well. The headstock is 2+2 and takes the extra tuners easily. For the bridge/tailpiece I was able to find a brass combo made by Ibanez. I'll try to put up some pics in a few days.